Princeton approves testing project in sewer lines

PRINCETON — Princeton City Council gave the green light for the city to undergo smoke testing in various parts of the sanitary sewer system. The council met Monday at City Hall.

The testing, which was previously recommended in the city’s sanitary sewer improvement plan, will help determine conditions of problematic areas.

Princeton City Manager Jeff Clawson said the testing will be carried out in the 24-inch sewer that runs east and west, a little north of town, and feeds through Elm Lawn Cemetery and beyond. The proposed cost for Trenchless Solutions to test this sewer came in at 74 cents per linear foot. The total cost is estimated to be $9,842, not to exceed $10,000.

Clawson pointed there are also miscellaneous areas around the city that have been problematic to get to with TV equipment, therefore Plan B is to undergo the smoke testing in those area to determine their conditions. The city will pay $22 per hour to Trenchless Solutions for an estimated time of 15 hours for this portion of the project. The total cost is estimated to be $3,375, not to exceed $3,600.

Clawson said this short-term plan is to lead to the long-term plan of determining where the need is to replace problematic sewers.

The costs of the smoke testing are not budgeted, but it will be charged to the city’s sewer fund and taken from the reserve the city is building over the next six months with the rate increase that went into effective in September.

The city’s sanitary storm sewer improvement plan is on file at City Hall and identifies areas that have been marked as priorities for the city to address.

Also on Monday. Clawson reported a diaphragm device is expected to be placed in Greencroft subdivision area to help issues with back flow sanitary into residents’ basements.

“It’s in the process of being measured, and when it’s measured, we will order that apparatus and get that installed, so that will be done this fall,” he said.

Also, the problematic low line manhole in the Greencroft area has been sealed, and Clawson confirmed that project was completed.

Lastly, Princeton Street Superintendent Steve Wright has been working with engineers on the plans to insert drain inlets on Dover Road, which Clawson reported is nearing sign-off so they can create the design and get the inlets installed, which was a recommendation in the plan created by Farnsworth Group Inc.

In other news, the council:

• Approved the purchase of a new ambulance from North Central Emergency Vehicles, Inc. at a bid price of $125,000. Princeton Fire Chief Chuck Woolley confirmed the old ambulance had many miles and was pushing 14 years. He said the body work and ambulance itself was getting “unreliable.”

• Approved a lease with Bureau-Putnam Area Rural Transit (BPART) for space at the train depot. Clawson reported he and Princeton City Clerk Pete Nelson have been meeting with representatives from BPART and have worked out details that will accommodate the city’s needs at the depot, as far as, assisting train riders and BPART’s need for the use of the depot. The city proposed to lease the space to BPART for $500 a month, and in return, BPART is asking for a $1,200 per month to provide the services described in the lease. The net effect of this lease is a monthly cost to the city of $700 to provide the scripted services. According to a memorandum released by Clawson, based on the costs, the city will be able to provide the needed coverage and pay the monthly stipend to BPART for the dollars the city is spending now.